//------------------------------// // Not Lion Around // Story: Spike’s Dog Tale // by Phantom-Dragon //------------------------------// "I can't believe we've lost Spike!" Smolder whimpered as she paced around, back and forth. "And it was his first time as a stray." "Hey, it's every dogs for himself," Garble said bluntly, earning a growl from his sister. "Oh c'mon, sis. You know as well as I do that it's a dog eat dog world out here. Or survival of the fittest. Remember? Though, not my favorite kind of words, but still. That's how it's been for us, ever since our owners had left us to fend for ourselves." "But still, we had each other," Smolder barked. "We survived because we're a pack. And for a while, Spike was one of us." "Uh, newsflash, he'd rather go back to his owner than to join us," The red dog barked. "I'm sure he's probably on his way back to this Twilight owner of his, right now." "Help!" A familiar barking was heard, to which the street dogs all turned their heads in the direction of the bark. "Hello? Anyone there? Help us!" "It's Spike!" Clump barked. "And he's alive!" Fume added. "And he needs our help!" Smolder turned to Garble, who looked away, pouting. "Well c'mon! Let's go!" With that, Smolder led the charge, barking loudly with Clump and Fume following, with Garble being the last to follow. Back with Spike Spike scratched a door at a house and whines pleadingly, while putting on the most cutest face he could muster, "Aw, what a cute little puppy!" The inhabitants cooed, before they gave Spike a steak as a treat. With that, Spike took the piece of meat away, running to a nearby dumpster, where he meets up with his new lion friend, Gabby. "Here, Gabby," Spike offered the meat to the lion. "Bon appetite!" The lion chewed at the steak, tearing away at the meat, "Hmmm, tastes a little weird," Gabby commented, not having eaten cooked meat before. "But... it's okay, I guess..." "Well, Twilight and her people seemed to like them," Spike shrugged. Just then, some loud barks were heard, to which the two turned to see a familiar pack of dogs running towards them. "Spike?!" Smolder barked. "Spike! You're alive!" Before Spike could return the greeting, Gabby leapt on all four and growled defensively at the dogs, "AH!!" Smolder screamed. "IT'S A LION!!!" Garble barked. "L-L-L-LIOOOOOOONNNN!!!!!" Fume screamed, with Clump, scared of his wits, jumping into the paws of his friend. "Mama, mama!" Clump whimpered. “Whoa, Gabby, easy! It’s okay!” Spike reassured to the defensive lion cub. “They’re my friends.” “They are?” The mountain lion asked. “Yeah.” An awkward silence soon followed, before Smolder broke the ice, “Uh, Spike? Who is the lion? And where did she come from?” “Uh, Gabby, these are Smolder, Fume, Clump, and Garble,” Spike introduced the lion to the stray dogs. “Dogs, meet Gabby." “Nice to meet you!” Gabby greeted eagerly. “Uh, hey,” Smolder greeted hesitantly. "I met her back in a warehouse," Spike explained. "She was stuck in a cage, so I let her out." "Warehouse?" Smolder asked. "What warehouse?" Suddenly, the sound of sirens was heard, in the distant and a large dark truck pulled up, along the streets. “Oh no!” Gabby whimpered. “Not them again!” Smolder and the dogs turned around to see the truck that filled them with dread. “Uh oh! It’s animal control!” Smolder frowned with wide eyes. “They must be after Gabby!” Spike barked. “You mean...you freed her from their cage?!” Smolder exclaimed with her fellow dogs looking shock and surprised. "But...no animals have ever escaped from animal control before..." Fume commented. Before Spike could answer, he was snatched by the back of his collar and carried away by Gabby, who took off running in fright. "She's dognapped Spike!" Fume barked fearfully. "More like saving him!" Smolder commented, pointing her head at several animal control officers pursuing both lion and dog on motorcycles. “Come on! After them!" Smolder barked, leading the chase. Garble, however, stopped them, "Whoa, wait a second! Chasing the animal controls people? Are you dogs out of your mind?" "Spike needs our help," Smolder argued. "He's one of us. And I'd never leave one of my pack members behind. Go find someplace to hide if you want, Garble. But I'm going." With that, Smolder and the rest of her dog friends took off running to save their friend, with a reluctant Garble following. "I just know I'll regret this," Garble sighed, as he followed. "Wait for me!" With the animal control officers hot on their tails, Gabby kept on running, carrying Spike, by the collar, in her jaws. "LION!" The people screamed, terrified at the sight of Gabby. Though Gabby's not a fully grown lion, she was estimated to be as big as a pitbull, and was still big enough to scare several people. Spike tried to make sense of all the madness, but it was hard for him to focus when he was repeatedly bouncing up and down, by the neck, being carried away by the young lion cub. "Hey!" Spike coughed. "Can't you run any smoother?" "What?" Gabby asked, before she crashes into a person's leg, causing her to lose her grip on Spike. Spike was sent rolling across the street, with his collar flying off. "AH! Oof! Ow!" Spike grunted as he got up and whimpered in fright. Everywhere he looked, people were all scrambling and running in horror, all around him. None of them paid any notice and some almost trampled him in the chaos. Just then, a tall shadow loomed over Spike as he turned around, just as a net fell down on him. "Gotcha!" The dog catcher exclaimed, before his words were eaten. Out of the blurs, Gabby appeared and leapt at the animal control officer's face, clawing at him, before she leapt to the ground, freeing Spike from his net, and carried him away, by scruff of his fur. Not too far behind, Spike could hear the officer grunting in frustration before he barked to his fellow officers, "There they go!" Without a doubt, more animal control officers will soon be upon them. Worse still, ahead are more crowds of panicked people. "Quick Gabby! Go left!" Spike pointed, helping Gabby navigate between the people. "No! Your other left! Go that way! Hurry! They're gaining on us! Quick! Hide in there!" "Ok!" Gabby replied through her gritted teeth as she and Spike darted into an alleyway. Some of the animal control officers screeched to a halt, after having lost sight of their targets. "Uh...captain?" One of the animal officers moaned, as he talked into a comm, in his ear. "We've lost them," From the comm, his captain spoke up some more orders for his subordinate, who complied, "Understood. Spread out and search for them! They couldn't have gone far..." With that, the animal control officers proceeded to spread out, searching for the runaway dog and mountain lion cub, within the vicinity. Meanwhile, Smolder and her fellow street dogs were in pursuit of their new friend and the animal control officers. "C'mon you guys! Keep up!" Smolder barked as she lead the charge. "Whoa! Get back!" She barked as they darted behind a wall, to avoid being seen by the officers. "They've got guns!" Fume whimpered. "If they spot us, then it's a one-way ticket to the dog pound...or worse, the long walk..." "No time for that now, Fume," Smolder barked. "We gotta find Spike and his lion friend, before these guys do." "But where'd they go?" Clump asked. Fume looked amidst the chaos, before he sighted both runaway dog and lion. "There they are!" The shepherd dog pointed, to a nearby open fish market in Chinatown. In the fish market, a conversation was going on between two fishmongers. "So my great grandfather was a fishmonger," One of the fishmongers bragged. "And my grandfather was a fishmonger. And my dad...well, he was a dentist. But now I'M a fishmonger too! Family honor restored. SO what brings you to this thrilling line of work pal?" With a grunt of frustration, the other fishmonger grumbled as she chomped a fish's head off. "Magic have made a mockery of me!" She grumbled. "They've cost me my job! My dignity! And once...it turned me into a newt..." The other fishmonger blinked incredulously in response, before he silently asked, "A newt?" "I got better! Still...if I see those Rainbooms and their talking dog, then so help me, they will rue the day they ever messed with Abacus Cinch..." "Uh...coffee break! See ya!" With that, the other fishmonger took his leave, while his co-worker, identified to be Abacus Cinch, was left to seethe her anger. At that very moment, Spike and Gabby had both arrived in the fish markets, to hide out from the animal control officers. They were hiding behind some crates, before peeking their heads up to see if they were being followed. While keeping a look out, Gabby's nose twitched to the smell of fresh fishes on the ice. Needless to say, she got hungry, with her rumbling tummy to vouch for her. "Why are they leaving these fishes out in the open like this?" Gabby asked as she climbs up to a booth to steal a fish. "They're catching flies and they're wasting away! Ooh! It's cold!" She exclaimed, when she took the fish, by the tail, wincing from the cold. "Gabby, no!" Spike barked, as he tries to pull his lion friend back down. "Get back down! You're going to get us–" "LION!!!" "–caught..." Spike frowned. "There's a lion in the fish market!" The panicked fishmonger screamed as he and his colleagues all screamed their heads off, as they ran around in a frenzy. During the chaos, Abacus Cinch looked down, and her eyes narrowed upon seeing Spike. "Ugh, dogs!" Abacus scowled. "I'm allergic to dogs! Wait a minute..." Her eyes squinted as she took a closer look at Spike, "I know you...you are the pet of my former pupil, Twilight Sparkle!" "Gabby," Spike barked to Gabby, who was already biting into the fish she had stolen. "Time to go!" "In a minute, Spike," Gabby replied, still tearing away at the fish. "We don't have time for this! Let's go!" Spike barked. "I said in a minute. I'm hungry!" "There they are!" Spike and Gabby looked up to see animal control officers, pointing their tranquil guns at both Spike and Gabby. "Uh...good idea," Gabby changed her mind. "Let's get out of here!" With that, both Spike and Gabby escaped into the streets, leaving behind the half-eaten fish, barely avoiding the tranquil darts fired at them. Shortly after, the officers resumed their chase, with Abacus Cinch's gaze following them, before she looked back down at the fish. "What has my former pupil done now?" Abacus pondered. "Surely she'd know better than letting her dog loose, let alone...a lion...hmmm." Once again, out on the streets, Spike and Gabby ran for dear life, with the animal control officers hot on their tails. Thankfully, with all the pedestrians, the officers put their guns away, taking out only their nets and snares, in their attempts to capture the two runaways. "I got 'em!" An officer shouted, lunging at Spike and Gabby, only to be stopped by Clump, who bit at the dog catcher's leg, tearing away at his pants. "Why you mangy mutt! Let go, let go of me!" He growled, turning his attention at the bull dog, who barked and took off running. At that moment, Garble had tripped a dog officer, before he took his hat. "Hey! Give that back!" The officer demanded the return of his hat, only for Garble and Smolder to play a game of keep away. "That's not funny! Give me my hat back or–Oh, c'mon, that's not fair..." He complained, after Garble had faked a throw, to which Smolder jumped in and snatched it out of the air. "Well, what are you waiting for, Spike?" Smolder barked at both little dog and lion cub. "Get out of here!" "But...what about you guys?" Spike asked. "Don't worry, we got this!" Smolder replied. "We'll hold them off! There's a path to the woods, up ahead! Go! We'll meet you there!" Spike turned his back, ready to follow Gabby, when he stopped and turned to Smolder, "Thanks Smolder!" "Thank us later, just go!" With that, both Spike and Gabby took off running, escaping from the animal control officers, until they found themselves out of the city, and at the edge of a forest. By then, the sun was setting over the horizon, and the sky turned orange. "I think we've lost them," Spike panted heavily, before he realized something else was missing. "Oh no! I've lost my collar! It's...it's somewhere in the city." "Oh! Was it that thing you wore around your neck?" Gabby asked. "I'm...I'm sorry." "...It's fine, don't worry," Spike shook his head. "But...I'm more worried about Smolder and her friends. I hope they're okay." "I hope so too," Gabby added. "I'm sorry if you and your friends got into trouble, because of me..." "Oh, don't worry," Spike shook his head. "From what I saw, they can take care of themselves and...I wouldn't last more than a day without them. It's still my first time out on the street." "Huh? What do you mean, your first time?" Gabby asked. "How long have you been a wild dog?" "Only a day," Spike explained. "I got left behind, by accident. And now, I have to get back home to Twilight, the sooner the better." "You too, huh?" Gabby sympathized with the little dog. "We're both a long way from home... Then let's go together!" "What?" "Well, it's no fun traveling all by yourself. And who knows? Maybe we can help each other find our way home, together!" "Hmmm, sounds like a good idea. Just then, the sound of heavy panting was heard, to which Spike and Gabby turned to see Smolder and her dog packs, following close behind. "Smolder! You guys are alright!" Spike barked happily. "Barely," Garble panted. "You owe us big for that!" "Phew! My legs are sore," Clump panted. "I'm going to feel this in the morning." "Anyway, now that animal control is taken cared of," Smolder turned her attention towards Gabby. "What are we going to do with her?" "It's simple," Spike barked. "I'm just going to take her home. And then, I'm going to mine." "Whoa, whoa, wait. Hold on!" Garble exclaimed. "Am I hearing that right? You seriously going to bring this lion home?" "Yeah!" Gabby chirped, excitedly. "Of course I am! You got a problem with that?" Spike asked. "Spike, how long have you been out in the wild?" Garble barked. "Do you even know where lions like her, even live?" "In the forest!" Clump added. "On the mountains!" Fume added. "With bears and wolves!" Garble added. "And let's not forget, we're talking about a lion, and lions eat dogs like us!" "Hey! Don't know me? Don't judge me!" Gabby huffed. "And besides, why would I ever eat dogs? Especially my new best friend, Spike here?" "And besides, Gabby's lost, just like I am," Spike pointed out. "So, in a way, us strays got to stick together." "That's for dogs, not for wild cats, like her!" Garble barked. "And besides, mountain lions like her are solitary predators! She can fend for herself. Just come back to the pack and stay with us..." "She's just a cub!" "She'll get bigger." "She's lost." "Not our problem." "Then I'll help her." "Look, Spike," Smolder interrupted. "I don't know her. And I know we've just met and all, but are you sure you want to do this? Your owner's abandoned you, and now...you're risking your own neck, for a lion?" "Twilight didn't abandon me!" Spike barked. "She just made a mistake. And yeah, whether you like it, or not, but Gabby's with me. And I promised I'd help her find her way home." "Whatever," Garble rolled his eyes. "You do you. But don't think we're coming with you..." “Then you don’t have to,” Spike replied. “It’s been nice meeting you dogs. But me and Gabby have to go.” "Well...sure, I guess," Smolder replied, while looking down, more concerned for Spike's well-being. "Right, well...see ya," Spike barked, before he and Gabby turned for the forest. "Let's go Gabby!" With that, Spike went off his separate ways from the stray dogs, with Gabby at his side. Garble was the first to take his leave, with Clump and Fume in tow. Smolder, however, was the last to leave, as she took a long glance, watching Spike and Gabby leave, disappearing into the forest. "Kid's got moxie..." Smolder commented. "I like moxie..."